BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University football team had five players included on Conference USA’s “Players to Watch List,” as announced by the league office on Monday.
The skilled players were senior defensive back Zyon Gilbert (46 total tackles, one interception, five PBUs) and redshirt junior wide receiver Brandon Robinson (team-high three receiving touchdowns), while the trenches are expected to be anchored by redshirt junior center Nick Weber and second-year freshman nose tackle Evan Anderson (five solo tackles, 16 assists, 2.0 TFL for a loss of 12 yards, including 1.5 sacks). Matt Hayball, who handled all of the punting duties in both 2019 and 2020, will guide the special team efforts (in 2019: 68 punts, 2,958 yards, 43.5 average, 77 long, 31 FC, 21 I20, 8 50+, 4 TB; in 2020: 45 punts, 1,983 yards for an average of 44.1, with a long of 70 yards, 17 FC, 17 I20, 11 50+ and just 3 TB)
The Owls look to build off head coach Willie Taggart‘s first season in Boca Raton, where the Florida native led FAU to a 5-4 overall record, a 4-2 C-USA mark and to the Owls’ third bowl game in four seasons.
FAU will open the 2021 season at the University of Florida on Saturday, Sept. 4. FAU will return home the following week to serve as host for the Howard Schnellenberger Celebration of Life Event on Friday, Sept. 10 and will then take on Georgia Southern on Saturday, Sept. 11.
For more information or tickets please call 1-866-FAU-OWLS or visit www.fausports.com.
2021 PARADISE PRIDE TOURFans, the first opportunity to meet head football coach Willie Taggart since his hire will be during the 2021 Paradise Pride Tour. Three tour stops will each take place from 5 to 7 p.m. (with each night’s formal program at 6 p.m. and a social hour before).
Here are the three dates and locations:
- Monday, July 26 – Bokampers – Fort Lauderdale (3115 NE 32nd Ave.)
- Tuesday, July 27 – Bar Louie – Coconut Creek (4443 Lyons Rd. Suite D-101)
- Monday, August 2 – Johnnie Brown’s – Delray Beach (301 E. Atlantic Ave.)
PLAYERS MENTIONED
#48 Evan Anderson
DL 6′ 3″ 356 lbs Freshman 2/14/2002
#24 Zyon Gilbert
CB 6′ 1″ 182 lbs Senior 2/4/1999
#42 Matt Hayball
P 6′ 1″ 188 lbs Redshirt Sophomore 3/12/1997
#89 Brandon Robinson
WR 6′ 4″ 202 lbs Redshirt Junior 5/30/1998
#63 Nick Weber
OL 6′ 3″ 301 lbs Redshirt Junior 6/5/1999
